The Irish standard., 1887-09-17
m filled a glass and emptied il

Il
/ turned the bottle upside down and lei
the last drop drain out Of it into the
glass.
Here's luck says Josh Reddy; ani
the little rouser disappears i'll manner
suggestive Of the man at the fair Wht
says presto and swallows halfpenny
And now, Tim, he continued, in hi!
quiet, solemn way, have you every
thing ready?'
All right Tim replies.
Mrs, Croak, are yea sure about the
place?'
Sure an certain,' Mrs. Croak replies
Three nights III succession?'
'What?' says Mrs. Croak.
Three nights running says JOSH
Reddy.
Yes; three nights runnin'.' she re-
plies.
'And, Tim, have you the black handle
knife?'
Shawn Cow is to bring id. He's tc
be wr,d U.S.
Il apprehend-that is, I'm afeard
that's bad job, Tim, says Josh Reddy,
shaking his head sorrowfully.
Why so?' inquiries Tim.
His propensity to swearing. The
cursing, mean,' ..
BE COB, / forgot that, says Tim
quite taken aback,
And wan curse, Tim Croak's wife
remarked, I'd spoil ALL
'Well, there's no help for i'd now,
says Tim. sWe'll warn him. And
Josh, as he want be here sooner than
another half hour, give us the 'Fox's
Sleep.'' ..
Josh Reddy was the parish musician
We say the musician. There was
Dinny Maloughney, the piper and
Billy Devine, the fiddler But Josh
Reddy was the 'musicianer.' The two
irregular practitioners were content
with what they could do in the way of
business among the poorest and most
humble, or chance job Of a better sort
when Josh Reddy was not to be had.
When all three happenedt to be employed
on great occasions like Tom Burke's
wedding--for Tom had taken unto HIM
self wife since we met. him the morn
ing he brought Brian Purcell the r,ng--
there was then sure TO be discord Of the
most excruciating sort. For Josh Red
dy would perform only such pieces as
We're beyond the powers Of bis humble
rivals, whose epileptjc attempts to ac-
company him were painful to behold.
Billy Devine, stopping to screw up his
fiddle, would conhdentially own to some
sympathiZing bystander, that he
couldn't compare with him. But,
anorl---driven out Of his wits by some
wonderful effort of lingering on the part
of Josh--Billy Devine would rush into
the midst Of the dancers, and with a
screech and y sdourish of his bow, inform
all whom it might concern that he
played by air, and didn't care damn
fer any man. Josh Reddy's con-
temptuous Indifference to these little
Irregularities was positively sublime.
Josh took his 6ddle-~-he always called
it the Instrumentation it's green bag,
and, laying his white hat beside his
chair, took a pinch of powdered resin
from {. tin box, and resined. his bow.
The instrument was soon tuned, and
Tim Croak and his wife Betty were
transported beyond all sublunary cares
and hopes by the 'Fox's Sleep when
the door opened and Shawn Cow pre-
sented himself.
God save all here" says Shawn Cow
in a voice which broke in upon the dull
Get melody like the first growl of a
thunderstorm on the song Of a linnet.
Betty placed chair for him without
interrupting the music. Shawn
sat down and listened, with bent brows
for few minutes. He was evidently
one of those MOTTO be-trusted individ-
uals who are not to be moved by con-
cord OF sweet sounds
what are we delayin' for?' ne asked,
turning TO Tim. ....=..
Josh Reddy let down the first string,
and returned the instrument to it's green
bag.
Now Shawn Cow says he, in an in-
pressiye manner, do you understand
the business we are about to embark
imp John Reddy had the reputation Of
being the best spoken man in the par
ish.
Shawn Cow only replied with a scowl.
Because Josh continued, AN impre-
cation, an oath, i'll fact, a curse of any
kind, must prove fatal to the success of
our project
Shawn Cow was evidently bewildered
by the fine language addressed to him,
but the word curse gave him clue to
the rest,
DO you think I'm fool?' he groWled.
Very well, Shawn says Josh; / only
wished to warn you. I hope your pres
ence WON'T prove unpropituous. But
I have my misgivings-I have my mis-
giving. he repeated in his low, plaint-